Flexible interconnectable brick assembly

ABSTRACT

A flexible interconnectable brick assembly includes a connector panel having a top side, a bottom side and a perimeter edge. The connector panel is resiliently flexible and is comprised of an elastomeric material. The perimeter edge includes a first end edge, a second end edge, a first lateral edge and a second lateral edge. A top adhesive is positioned on and covers the top side of the connector panel. A plurality of female interconnection members is positioned on the bottom side of the connector panel and each releasably and frictionally receives a male interconnection member of a brick.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

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STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

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THE NAMES OF THE PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT

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INCORPORATION-BY-REFERENCE OF MATERIAL SUBMITTED ON A COMPACT DISC OR ASA TEXT FILE VIA THE OFFICE ELECTRONIC FILING SYSTEM

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STATEMENT REGARDING PRIOR DISCLOSURES BY THE INVENTOR OR JOINT INVENTOR

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BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION (1) Field of the Invention (2) Descriptionof Related Art Including Information Disclosed Under 37 CFR 1.97 and1.98

The disclosure and prior art relates to toy building and connectionblock devices and more particularly pertains to a new toy building andconnection block device for coupling together otherwise non-compatiblestructures and allowing for attachment to and between surfaces having nocoupling mechanisms.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An embodiment of the disclosure meets the needs presented above bygenerally comprising a connector panel having a top side, a bottom sideand a perimeter edge. The connector panel is resiliently flexible and iscomprised of an elastomeric material. The perimeter edge includes afirst end edge, a second end edge, a first lateral edge and a secondlateral edge. A top adhesive is positioned on and covers the top side ofthe connector panel. A plurality of female interconnection members ispositioned on the bottom side of the connector panel and each isconfigured to releasably and frictionally receive a male interconnectionmember of a brick.

In another embodiment, the invention includes a connector panel having atop side, a bottom side and a perimeter edge. The connector panel isresiliently flexible and is comprised of an elastomeric material. Theperimeter edge includes a first end edge, a second end edge, a firstlateral edge and a second lateral edge. A first coupler and a secondcoupler is positioned on the top side of the connector panel. The firstand second couplers are spatially and structurally discreet with respectto each other. A bottom adhesive is positioned on and covers the bottomside of the connector panel.

In yet another embodiment, the invention comprises a connector panelhaving a top side, a bottom side and a perimeter edge. The connectorpanel is resiliently flexible and is comprised of an elastomericmaterial. The perimeter edge includes a first end edge, a second endedge, a first lateral edge and a second lateral edge. A plurality ofmale interconnection members is integrally formed in and extendsupwardly from the top side. The male interconnection members arearranged in a plurality of columns extending from the first end edge tothe second end edge and rows extending between the first and secondlateral edges. The male interconnection members are configured tofrictionally and releasably engage female receivers of a brick. Aplurality of female interconnection members is positioned on the bottomside of the connector panel. Each of the female interconnection membersis configured to releasably and frictionally receive male pegs of abrick. The male interconnection members on the connector panel have asize that is incompatible with engagement of the female interconnectionmembers on the connector panel.

There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more importantfeatures of the disclosure in order that the detailed descriptionthereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that thepresent contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There areadditional features of the disclosure that will be described hereinafterand which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto.

The objects of the disclosure, along with the various features ofnovelty which characterize the disclosure, are pointed out withparticularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of thisdisclosure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING(S)

The disclosure will be better understood and objects other than thoseset forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to thefollowing detailed description thereof. Such description makes referenceto the annexed drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a top perspective view of a flexible interconnectable brickassembly according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 2 is a bottom perspective view of an embodiment of the disclosureof FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of an embodiment of the disclosuretaken along line 3-3 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a side in-use view of an embodiment of the disclosure shown inFIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a top perspective view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 6 is a bottom perspective view of an embodiment of the disclosureshown in FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is a top view of an embodiment of the disclosure shown in FIG. 5.

FIG. 8 is an in-use, top perspective view of an embodiment of thedisclosure shown in FIG. 5.

FIG. 9 is a top perspective view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 10 is a top view of an embodiment of the disclosure shown in FIG.9.

FIG. 11 is an in-use, top perspective view of an embodiment of thedisclosure shown in FIG. 9.

FIG. 12 is a top perspective view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 13 is a top perspective view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 14 is a bottom perspective view of an embodiment of the disclosureshown in FIG. 13.

FIG. 15 is a top perspective view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 16 is a bottom perspective view of an embodiment of the disclosureshown in FIG. 15.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to FIGS. 1 through16 thereof, a new toy building and connection block device embodying theprinciples and concepts of an embodiment of the disclosure and generallydesignated by the reference numeral 10 will be described.

As best illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 16, the flexible interconnectablebrick assembly 10 generally comprises a device to be utilized withbuilding brick systems utilizing generally similar structures forfrictionally coupling together these structures. Typically thesestructures comprise interconnecting toy bricks 76 and the systemstherefore. These brick systems are ubiquitous in the toy arts and arefound in multiple references such as U.S. Pat. No. 3,005,282. Toy bricksof this type may be found, for instance, being sold under the names Legoand Duplo. Lego and Duplo bricks may be analogous to either generally,but vary in size with respect to each other. More particularly, theDuplo toy bricks includes larger features than Lego toy bricks whichallows Duplo type bricks to be used more easily by small children.Because there are instances of large format bricks 70 and small formatbricks 72 being used by the same child, and because these varying sizedbricks are not compatible with each other, the assembly 10 is utilizedto secure these together or allow their simultaneous usage. Furthermore,these brick systems do not allow for easy attachment to other articleswhich do not have analogous coupling structures and thereforeembodiments of the assembly 10 may be used for this purpose as well.

The assembly 10 includes a plurality of embodiments shown generally inFIGS. 1-16 to allow differently sized bricks as well as other articlesto be releasably attached to each other. In all embodiments ofinvention, a connector panel 12 is provided having a top side 14, abottom side 16 and a perimeter edge 18. The terms “top” and “bottom” arebeing used to more clearly understand the invention by providingreference points within the Figures, however it should be understoodthat the connector panel 12 may be used utilized in any orientation. Theconnector panel 12 may be comprised of resiliently flexible material andmore particularly may include an elastomeric material, such assilicones, rubbers and the like such that the connector panel 12 isnon-rigid and easily bendable. However, some embodiments described belowmay include versions incorporating a rigid, plastic material. Theperimeter edge 18 includes a first end edge 20, a second end edge 22, afirst lateral edge 24 and a second lateral edge 26. Typically, theconnector panel 12 is elongated from the first end edge 20 to the secondend edge 22 and the connector panel 12 has a width dimension from thefirst lateral edge 24 to the second lateral edge 26. Moreover, theconnector panel 12 has a height dimension from the top side 14 to thebottom side 16 and a width dimension from the first lateral edge 24 tothe second lateral edge 26. The width dimension may be at least threetimes greater than the height dimension and the height dimension istypically less than 0.5 inches. Greater heights may interfere with thebending, twisting or looping of the connector panel 12.

In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1-4, a top adhesive 28 is positioned onand covers the top side 14 of the connector panel 12. A removablecovering, not shown, may be positioned on to protect the top adhesive 28and which is removed when the top adhesive 28 is to be used. A pluralityof female interconnection members 30 is positioned on the bottom side 16of the connector panel 12. Each of the female interconnection members 30is configured to releasably and frictionally receive a maleinterconnection member (or peg) 78 of a brick 76. The femaleinterconnection members 30 may be structured so that they extend awayfrom the connector panel and include wells or receivers to engage thebrick 76 male interconnection members 78. However, as seen in FIG. 2 thefemale interconnection members 30 may extend upwardly into the bottomside 16 of the connector panel 12 and have a cylindrical shape. FIG. 4depicts the connector panel 12 extending between two bricks 76 andcoupled to male interconnection members 76 positioned thereon. The topadhesive 28 allows small toy articles 74, such as toy figurines, toycars or the like to be secured to the connector panel 12.

FIGS. 5-12 include embodiments including the connector panel but whereina bottom adhesive 32 is positioned on and covers the bottom side 16 ofthe connector panel 12 as shown in FIG. 6. The bottom adhesive 32 allowscoupling of the connector panel 12 to a surface of an object such as awall. As with the top adhesive 28, a removable covering may bepositioned on the bottom adhesive 32 to protect it until usage.

The embodiments of FIGS. 5-12 each include a first coupler 34 and asecond coupler 36 are each positioned on the top side 14 of theconnector panel 12. The first 34 and second 36 couplers are spatiallyand structurally discreet with respect to each other to allow forcompatibility of attachment with more than one type of article. That is,the first coupler 34 is segregated from the second coupler 36 so thateach provides an area to connect with one particular type of object.Also, the first coupler 34 does not share a same structure as the secondcoupler 36 so that each is compatible with a different type of object ormating coupling.

With respect to the embodiments found in FIGS. 5, 7 and 8, the firstcoupler 34 comprises a plurality of male interconnection members 38 thatare integrally formed in and extend upwardly from the top side. The maleinterconnection members 38 may be arranged in a plurality of columnsextending from the first end edge 20 to the second end edge 22 and rowsextending between the first 24 and second 26 lateral edges. However, itshould be understood that there may be either a single row, a singlecolumn, or a single male interconnection member positioned on theconnector panel 12. The male interconnection members 38 are configuredto frictionally and releasably engage female interconnection memberseither on additional ones of the assemblies 10 or with conventionalbricks 78 as described above. Typically the male interconnection members38 have a cylindrical shape. In this embodiment the second coupler 36comprises a top adhesive 40 that is positioned on the top side 36 of theconnector panel 12. In some embodiments, as shown in the Figures, themale interconnection members 38 are placed in sections spaced from eachother and the top adhesive 40 is positioned in open areas lacking thesections of the male interconnection members 38. FIG. 5 includes areasof top adhesive 40 adjacent to the first 20 and second 22 end edges andbetween sections of male interconnection members 38. The top adhesive 40allows articles, such as shown in FIG. 4, to be attached to the top side14 though such articles lack female interconnection members.

The embodiments shown in FIGS. 9-12 include the first 34 and second 36couplers each comprising a plurality of male interconnection members 38.However, the first couplers 34 have a different size than the secondcouplers 36 so that the first couplers 34 are smaller than the secondcouplers 36. More particularly, the first couplers 34 have a lesserwidth than the second couplers 36 to allow them to engage smaller bricks72, as shown in FIG. 11, than is possible with the second couplers 36.Additionally, the first couplers 34 may have a shorter height than thesecond couplers 36. As can been seen in FIG. 11, this embodiment allowsdifferent sized bricks to be used with each other on a single connectorpanel 12. FIGS. 11 and 12 also demonstrate that the first 34 and second36 couplers of this embodiment may be arranged in various patterns asneeded or desired.

Another embodiment of the assembly 10 is found in FIGS. 13-16 andincludes a plurality of male interconnection members 38 that areintegrally formed in and extend upwardly from the top side 14 and aplurality of female interconnection members 30 that are positioned onthe bottom side 16 of the connector panel 12. However, in thisembodiment, the male interconnection members 38 on the connector panel12 have a size that is incompatible with engagement of the femaleinterconnection members 30 on the connector panel 12. Depending on thearrangement of the male 38 and female 30 interconnection members, thisallows one sized brick to be placed on the top side 14 of the connectorpanel 12 and a different sized brick to be placed on the bottom side 16of the connector panel 12. The connector panel 12, in this manner,allows differently sized bricks 76 to be attached together. Moreparticularly, FIGS. 13 and 14 show a top side 14 having maleinterconnection members 38 that are smaller than the femaleinterconnection members 30 on its bottom side 16. FIGS. 15 and 16include a top side 14 having male interconnection members 38 that arelarger than the female interconnection members 30 on its bottom side 16.

In use, the connector panel 12 allows for articles to be attachedtogether that conventional brick couplers would not. Specifically, theassembly 10 encourages attachment together of varying sized bricks thatare not compatible with each other and further allows, where adhesive isutilized, coupling to articles that do not include either male or femaleinterconnection members.

With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized thatthe optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of an embodimentenabled by the disclosure, to include variations in size, materials,shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, aredeemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and allequivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings anddescribed in the specification are intended to be encompassed by anembodiment of the disclosure.

Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of theprinciples of the disclosure. Further, since numerous modifications andchanges will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is notdesired to limit the disclosure to the exact construction and operationshown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications andequivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of thedisclosure. In this patent document, the word “comprising” is used inits non-limiting sense to mean that items following the word areincluded, but items not specifically mentioned are not excluded. Areference to an element by the indefinite article “a” does not excludethe possibility that more than one of the element is present, unless thecontext clearly requires that there be only one of the elements.

1. A building brick assembly comprising: a connector panel having a topside, a bottom side and a perimeter edge, said connector panel beingnon-rigid and resiliently flexible and being comprised of an elastomericmaterial, said perimeter edge including a first end edge, a second endedge, a first lateral edge and a second lateral edge; a top adhesivebeing positioned on and covering said top side of said connector panel;a plurality of female interconnection members being positioned on saidbottom side of said connector panel, each of said female interconnectionmembers being configured to releasably and frictionally receive a maleinterconnection member of a brick.
 2. The building brick assemblyaccording to claim 1, wherein said female interconnection members extendupwardly into said bottom side.
 3. The building brick assembly accordingto claim 2, wherein said female interconnection members each have acylindrical shape.
 4. The building brick assembly according to claim 1,wherein said connector panel is elongated from said first end edge tosaid second end edge.
 5. The building brick assembly according to claim4, wherein said connector panel having a width dimension from said firstlateral edge to said second lateral edge, said connector panel having aheight dimension from said top side to said bottom side, said widthdimension being at least three times greater than said height dimension.6. A building brick assembly comprising: a connector panel having a topside, a bottom side and a perimeter edge, said connector panel beingresiliently flexible and being comprised of an elastomeric material,said perimeter edge including a first end edge, a second end edge, afirst lateral edge and a second lateral edge; a first coupler and asecond coupler being positioned on said top side of said connectorpanel, said first and second couplers being spatially and structurallydiscreet with respect to each other; and a bottom adhesive beingpositioned on and covering said bottom side of said connector panel. 7.The building brick assembly comprising according to claim 6, whereinsaid connector panel is elongated from said first end edge to saidsecond end edge.
 8. The building brick assembly according to claim 7,wherein said connector panel has a width dimension from said firstlateral edge to said second lateral edge, said connector panel having aheight dimension from said top side to said bottom side, said widthdimension being at least three times greater than said height dimension.9. The building brick assembly according to claim 6, wherein said firstcoupler comprises a plurality of male interconnection members beingintegrally formed in and extending upwardly from said top side, saidmale interconnection members being arranged in a plurality of columnsextending from said first end edge to said second end edge and rowsextending between said first and second lateral edges, said maleinterconnection members being configured to frictionally and releasablyengage female interconnection members, wherein said second couplercomprises a top adhesive being positioned on said top side of saidconnector panel.
 10. The building brick assembly according to claim 6,wherein said first coupler comprises a plurality of male interconnectionmembers being integrally formed in and extending upwardly from said topside, said male interconnection members being arranged in a plurality ofcolumns extending from said first end edge to said second end edge androws extending between said first and second lateral edges, said maleinterconnection members being configured to frictionally and releasablyengage female interconnection members.
 11. The building brick assemblyaccording to claim 10, wherein said second coupler comprises a topadhesive being positioned on said top side of said connector panel. 12.The building brick assembly according to claim 11, wherein said maleinterconnection members are placed in sections spaced from each otherand said top adhesive is positioned in open areas lacking said sectionsof said male interconnection members.
 13. The building brick assemblyaccording to claim 6, wherein said first and second couplers eachcomprises a plurality of male interconnection members being integrallyformed in and extending upwardly from said top side, said maleinterconnection members being arranged in a plurality of columnsextending from said first end edge to said second end edge and rowsextending between said first and second lateral edges, said maleinterconnection members being configured to frictionally and releasablyengage female interconnection members, said first couplers having adifferent size than said second couplers wherein said first couplers aresmaller than said second couplers.
 14. The building brick assemblyaccording to claim 6, wherein said first and second couplers each have acylindrical shape, said first couplers having a lesser width than saidsecond couplers.
 15. The building brick assembly according to claim 14,wherein said first couplers having a shorter height than said secondcouplers.
 16. A building brick assembly comprising: a connector panelhaving a top side, a bottom side and a perimeter edge, said connectorpanel being resiliently flexible and being comprised of an elastomericmaterial, said perimeter edge including a first end edge, a second endedge, a first lateral edge and a second lateral edge; a plurality ofmale interconnection members being integrally formed in and extendingupwardly from said top side, said male interconnection members beingarranged in a plurality of columns extending from said first end edge tosaid second end edge and rows extending between said first and secondlateral edges, said male interconnection members being configured tofrictionally and releasably engage female receivers of a brick; aplurality of female interconnection members being positioned on saidbottom side of said connector panel, each of said female interconnectionmembers being configured to releasably and frictionally receive malepegs of a brick; said male interconnection members on said connectorpanel having a size being incompatible with engagement of said femaleinterconnection members on said connector panel.
 17. The building brickassembly according to claim 16, wherein said female interconnectionmembers extend upwardly into said bottom side.
 18. The building brickassembly according to claim 17, wherein said female interconnectionmembers each have a cylindrical shape.
 19. The building brick assemblyaccording to claim 17, wherein said connector panel is elongated fromsaid first end edge to said second end edge.
 20. The building brickassembly according to claim 17, wherein said connector panel having awidth dimension from said first lateral edge to said second lateraledge, said connector panel having a height dimension from said top sideto said bottom side, said width dimension being at least three timesgreater than said height dimension.